Series levelled after brilliant win for rejuvenated tourists
Well, well, well…now that’s what you call a comeback. The British & Irish Lions stunned New Zealand tonight in Wellington, with a last-gasp victory to level the Test series at 1-1 – setting up the mother of all deciders next week in Auckland. The Lions were never actually ahead until the final score of the game, which will leave New Zealand scratching their heads as to how they let this one slip – but had their fly-half Beauden Barrett kicked jut two of the three penalties he missed, they would have won. Fine games, fine margins.
The Lions started brightly, enjoying a good opening 10 minutes or so. Lively, physical, and no little skill on show. Only a couple of handling areas and some carelessness letting them down at times – particularly when full-back Liam Williams was away and clear down the right but the pass from prop Mako Vunipola was forward, a relief to the All Blacks, who by now probably realised they were in for a game. Possession, territory and decent momentum – but still the Lions hadn’t troubled the scoreboard.
The first clear points opportunity went to New Zealand – the Lions were offside at the breakdown, but Barrett’s kick was a shocker – to even call it a sighter would be overdoing it – although it hit the post and rebounded to safety, it really should have been 3-0. A Lions reprieve, for sure.
But it was short-lived – a Barrett penalty on 19 minutes following a collapsed scrum drew first blood. By now, the conditions were dreadful, the rain hammered down and the wind swirled – this was going to be a night for the strong of heart, for sure. Owen Farrell meanwhile was levelling things up with a superb long-range penalty after a Kiwi offside was spotted, to make it 3-3.
Then came a huge moment – an event that hadn’t happened for 50 years – an All Black being sent off. The transgressor was their huge centre Sonny Bill Williams, and he can have few complaints. Following a decent maul for the Lions, scrum-half Conor Murray broke free and the ball went to wing Anthony Watson, who was held up strongly by Waisake Naholo. In flew Sonny Bill, crashing into the left side of Watson’s head with a stiff right arm and shoulder – it was a sickening collision to observe. Williams simply had to go. It was a dangerous, horrible incident – and only Sonny Bill knows if it was premeditated or not.
So it was 15 v 14 and the Lions had suddenly received a huge boost. More importantly, Watson was OK, passing his HIA (head injury assessment) and returned to the fray. The game quietened for a short while, as if both teams were acclimatising to the sending-off.
The remainder of the half saw a string of penalties exchanged, two for each side – 9-9 at half-time. Wow – what an eventful half. The Lions had a numerical advantage but the way the All Blacks play, with much inter-changing of recognised positions – in all honesty it wasn’t exactly obvious. Could the Lions eventually capitalise with the extra man? One player who was certainly doing his damnedest was Lions lock Maro Itoje – he was everywhere, full of noise and encouragement. His non-selection to start the first Test looking like a major error the longer this game went on.
Early in the second half Barrett once again showed his inconsistency with the boot as New Zealand were awarded four penalties in a 10-minute period. Two scored, two missed. The significance was to loom large for the KIwi’s by the time the game came to an end. But for now, the Lions trailed 15-9, and they were finding it hard to impose themselves and maximise their man advantage. The frustration could be felt through their massed ranks of fans who were getting nervous now.
All eyes began to look a the Lions bench – would fresh blood and fresh impetus now be coming on? Not right now, it seemed. Whilst Gatland wasn’t exactly fiddling whilst Wellington burned, it was certainly smouldering and flames looked imminent.
More bad news was on the way for the visitors. On 56 minutes, Mako Vunipola – whose composure appeared to be going walkabout for some time – crazily took out Barrett following a ruck and was promptly sin-binned. So much for the extra man advantage. The All Blacks probably couldn’t believe their luck. Vunipola was to commit 4 penalties during the game – a worrying lack of discipline which Gatland will not have been impressed with. Barrett duly slotted the resultant penalty and New Zealand led 18-9. Worrying. But finally some bench action – lock Courtney Lawes replacing Alun Wyn Jones, the Welsh veteran had done better than the critics of his selection had predicted, but looked utterly spent as a result.
Shortly afterwards, the Lions hauled themselves back in it in grand style. From a ruck close to the Kiwi 22, scrum-half Conor Murray found Jonny Sexton, to Farrell, to Williams – who fired a brilliant pass to Toby Faletau who has the pace and keeps low to cross the line brilliantly, despite two attempted tackles that he swatted away like annoying flies. Fantastic stuff from the Lions. Owen Farrell failed to convert, but it’s closer now at 18-14 to the All Blacks.
But yet again, the demons in Black pull away…another penalty, Barrett makes no mistake – 21-14. The Kiwi bench is proving effective and momentum seems to be with them. The Lions needed a try, and quickly. So, step forward please Conor Murray, who delivered just what was needed in terrific style. Hooker Jamie George barreled through like a bull on steroids, breaks the All Blacks line and takes the contact. He feeds Conor Murray who powers his way over from 10 metres – what a score, what a moment. Farrell nails the conversion – it’s a level game at 21-21, with 10 minutes left to play.
Come on Lions – give us the best 10 minutes of your life, here. And indeed, the chance comes. With barely four minutes left, the All Blacks are scrummaging with only 7 players – how’s that for confidence? The Lions won the ball though, and start a passing movement. It reaches prop Kyle Sinckler who is promptly taken out by Charlie Faumuina – a sure-fire penalty.
On 77 minutes, Farrell takes aim, maybe 30 metres out, and he doesn’t miss. 24-21 to the Lions with 3 minutes to go. They manage to keep possession and indeed were battering the All Blacks 22 at the point the hooter sounded – Conor Murray joyfully kicking into touch to seal a fantastic win – one all, and all to play for in what promises to be a seismic defining match back in Auckland.
But how Beauden Barrett and the All Blacks will rue his 3 missed penalties – they would have made all the difference in such a tight game which ended in a winning margin of only 3 points – which were scored only 3 minutes from time. New Zealand will ponder on that – just as the Lions must ponder on a horrific penalty count of 13 against them. It’s doubtful they could ever concede that sort of figure against this New Zealand team and emerge victorious again – it has to be addressed by Gatland and his staff and of course it will be.
Man of the match? Has to be Lions lock Maro Itoje. He simply never stopped or made a backward step for 80 minutes. No wonder the Lions fans have turned the White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army into Itoje’s own personal anthem. The sound of the 25.000 Lions fans belting that out was quite something – as is the player.
So, to Auckland in a weeks’ time for the decider. What a game, an occasion and an event in prospect. Predicting the winner now becomes very difficult, too. A good case was made for an All Black 3-0 blackwash after they’d won the first Test in some comfort – but tonight changes everything – chiefly in the psychological sense. The pressure not to lose on home soil – again – will be a heavy load for the massive All Black shoulders.
Conventional wisdom usually places the advantage with the team that has come from behind to draw level in these scenarios, and the Lions will of course be massively lifted after such a famous result here, and, remember – New Zealand weren’t able to score a single try against them. Above all they’ve proved they can beat the mighty All Blacks. Whether they can do it again will make for fascinating and compulsive viewing.
By Chris Tribe
1st July 2017
Copyright © 2017 Chris Tribe. All Rights Reserved.
Photo credit: Copyright © Brett Taylor
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